Shepherds Care for Their Flocks
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘<God said to Ezekiel,> (2) “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? (3) You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. (4) You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. (5) So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. (6) My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. (7) Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: (8) As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because My flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but cared for themselves rather than for My flock, (9) therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: (10) This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for My flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’ (Ezekiel 34:2-10)
This is in the context of God, seeing that the Israelite government and the Levitical priests were more in tune with their own selfish needs than the needs of the people, especially in leading them Spiritually, but also in their physical wellbeing and guidance. The Israelite leaders were ‘elitists’ and a two-tiered society was created where it was more important to be in the right social circle to be around instead of circling society around into doing right. Unfortunately, we see the same in our society today; our political leadership (at every level in the US) are not concerned over the average American citizen and the impacts or consequences upon the general population in almost every facet imaginable. Even in many Christian churches, our pastors, priests, bishops and elders are also more in the ‘me’ than the ‘we’, not caring about the flock but the fleecing.
God speaks clearly that He expects those who are in leadership positions to take care of those who they are responsible for. The Pastor and Elders in MBC, for example, are responsible for the Spiritual needs and feeding of those who come to MBC. We try to take care of needs that may occur through the members of MBC, such as food drives in the Holiday season, supporting Jesus-Loves-You and Pregnancy Solutions, the Connections ministry for widows. We encourage fellowship and reading Scriptures through Life Group and other programs.
What of our nation? God expects our government to be ‘For The People’; the US Government is not to be against the people or to harm them but to assist them and build up the citizenry. Uniting the people to build roads to ease transportation, running electricity and now Internet throughout the country to power and communicate our homes, and provide standardization on goods and services helps the people. We have had the highest standards of living because of this principle – at least up until now.
Leadership is also to protect the people. We provide sound doctrine of Biblical principles and defend against that which is heresy against God’s precepts in MBC. Likewise, our government should protect us; our military is outward protection while our laws and their enforcement should protect us inward. When these principles are not followed, God will – when, where, and how in His choosing – come to the rescue His people from those who become selfish. When politicians or pastors no longer care for their flock, God will act to the benefit of His people for His glory! Praise the Lord!
